Hoop work holder



June 29, 1954 H. KLEMA ET AL HOOP WORK HOLDER Filed July 30, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 1 ""4 I m mun/ml,

O IN VENTORS N CLIFFORD L. qualwre 4 flawmw xmenn June 29, 1954 H. KLEMAETAL HOOP WORK HOLDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 30 1951 .pllll llllINVENTORS c L/rFoRn 1.. M44451? 4 Annu Kit/v0 BY QM Zi Patented June29,1954

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOOP WORK HOLDER Application July 30, 1951,Serial No. 239,258

2 Claims.

of the holder is such that a positive or fixed center point and positionfor mounting, is at all times maintained in relation to the pantographmechanism regardless of the diameter of the hoop and in either an openor closed position. The maintaining of an established center isnecessary to provide center area of the work with area of the pattern,be it character stitching or straight line sewing. The peculiar designof the holder further embodies the principle of carrying the material inpositive relationship to the working pattern without swinging, arcing oruncontrollable, undersirable motion that would otherwise destroy thepurpose of its function.

An object of this invention is to provide a hoop work holder, simple andrigid in design and operation, economical to manufacture and soconstructed that any play or excessive back lash caused by wear will beautomatically taken up and balanced out as the unit closes in on thehoops.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hoop work holder havinga pair of oppositely disposed claw-type projecting clamping fingers forengaging a hoop actuated by a knurled thumb wheel mounted on a right andleft hand screw whereby by turning the thumb wheel the fingers may bemoved toward or away from each other while maintaining a constant centerline for the respective sized hoop.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hoop work holderhaving a pair of mating gears, one of each being mounted at adjacentends of the clamping fingers and when the thumb wheel is actuated thefingers will be supported and controlled in open or closed positionwithout side swinging and maintaining the constant center point.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a hoop work holderhaving a lead screw 2 or lead may be readily substituted so that theclamping fingers may have an increased or decreased operating actionwith clamping action of greater or less power.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a hoop workholder to be used in conjunction with a pantograph mechanism for theforming of monograms or work having like characteristics, by sewing andhaving a simple control element which enables an operator of suchequipment to maintain an easy sitting position without rising to changehoop sizes and to change hoops from one piece of work to the other. Thedevice is so simple in design and so easy to manipulate, that operatorfatigue is virtually eliminated. Its simplicity and adaptness to thepurposes intended, further promotes production and confidence in use,and practically no maintenance is required.

With the foregoing general objects, and certain other objects, featuresand results in view which will .be readily recognized from the followingdetailed description and explanation, our invention consists in certainnovel features in design and construction, and in combinations andsub-combinations of parts and components, making up a mechanism of theinvention, as will be more fully and particularly referred to in andspecified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar referencecharacters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several figuresthereof:

Figure 1 is a view in top' plan of a hoop work holder partly in sectionembodying our invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the hoop holder of Figure 1 but on a smallerscale and partially in section;

Figure 3 is a view in top plan of a pantograph mechanism of theparallelogram form which is used for actuating the work holder.

Figure 4 is a view in rear elevation of one form of a pantographmechanism and associated mechanism in operative relationship with thehoop or work holder. r

The hoop work holder designated generally by the character F comprises amounting bracket IU of such material able to support, mount and controlhoops which support a piece of fabric on which a monogram or other workof like characteristics is to be carried out. The left hand of bracketI0 is drilled at H, with a slot l3 cut clear through from the hole II toone side of the bracket. A hole I4 is formed from the end of the bracketand a second hole [4a in line with hole 14 is formed beyond slot 13. Thehole I ia is threaded whereby any suitable fastening element 15 may beinserted into hole I4 with the head I8 of the fastening element restingwithin a counterbored section I! of the hole [4 and the threaded end [8of the fastening element threadedly engaging the hole [441. The functionof the hole H is for mounting on a pin 64 (see Figure 4), which formspart of the pantograph mechanism, purposes of which will be describedlater.

The right hand of the bracket supports two equally spaced and in linepins or pivot studs it which project upwardly a substantial distance ifrom the fiat surface of the bracket ID.

A pair of spaced clamping fingers 2i substantially yoke shaped at oneend are connected to the bracket l0 through the medium of matingengaging gears 22 said gears having a cover 22a (see Figure l). Eachgear is fixed onto one end of its respective finger in a rigid positionand is mounted on the pivot stud l9 as shown in Fi ure 2. The fingersmay then swing toward or away from each other as the mating gears rotateon their respective pivot studs. The clampin fingers are perforatedinwardly at 23. These perforations are spaced an equal distance from themating gears 22 and from the inside edge 24 of each of the clampingfingers. The function of each perforation 23 is to support the shank 25of a nut 26. The head 21 of each nut is approximately centrallyapertured at 28 at right angles to the shank 25 and threaded.Incidently, each of the shanks 25 are freely held in their respectiveperforation 23, whereby each may be readily detached from engagementtherefrom. A thumb wheel 29 which is knurled or serrated on its outsideedge, is centrally mounted on a shaft 30. One end of the shaft 30 isprovided withright hand threads and the other end with left handthreads. In assembled state, one end of the shaft is threadedly mountedin one of the nuts 26 and the other end of the shaft is threadedlymounted in the other nut 26. Rotation, on one direction,

of the thumb wheel 29, will spread the clamping fingers apart, whilerotation of the thumb wheel in another direction, will swing theclamping fingers toward each other.

The free end 3| of each clamping finger is curved and is channeled at 32on its inside surface 32a to support hoops to be of such design toincorporate sufiicient rigidity along with lightness for the voidance ofdrag and sluggish action. This inside surface 32:]. is formed incontours as indicated by the numerals 33 and 34 whereby, regardless ofthe size of various hoops, for instance, hoops having a diameter rangeof l to 10, each hoop will be securely held and each will have the samecenter point as indicated at 35 when clamped between the clampingfinger. Each channel 32 along the surface 320. is provided with aresilient cushion of rubber T0, neoprene or any other suitable materialagainst which a portion of the outside surface of the hoop may bear.

There are times when it becomes convenient to use a small size hoop,such as hoops having a diameter of 2" to 3". Therefore, to stillmaintain the common center point at 35, the applicants have devisedremovable bracket adapters for the proper positioning of such smallhoops.

A pair of spaced holes .36 are drilled from the surface 32a clearthrough each finger to its outer edge 31. Each of these holes are spacedthe same distance from the free ends of each clamping finger and of suchsize to readily receive a dowel pin 33, one each of which are mounted onthe ends of the bracket adapter designated by the numeral 39.

Each adapter is of the same size and has its inner surface .6 curved andalso channeled whereby hoops of a range of 2 to 3" in diameter may befirmly gripped between the co-acting pair of curved surfaces 46. Theseadapters are readily attached or detached from the clamping fingers.While each dowel pin 33 is freely supported in their respective holenevertheless, each dowel pin slides easily in or out of the hole 36.

We have shown, for purposes of description only in the presentapplication, the mechanism in Figures 3 and 4 which show generally,particular mechanism used with the hoop work holder of Figures 1 and 2.

The character P designates an adjustable pantograph unit ofparallelogram form for movement transmitting operation by any well knowntracer arm T carrying the usual tracer or styles movable over a patternwhich may be commonly associated or mounted on a pattern table 4 I.

The work holder F of Figures 1 and 2 is operatively connected with thepantograph unit P.

A working element or tool in the form of a vertically disposed needle Nis positioned above vork holder F for movements of that work holderrelative to the needle. The needle N forms a part of and may be taken toexemplify any conventional or adaptable type or form of sewing machine,hence it is not considered necessary to illustrate such a sewingmachine.

The pantograph unit P and the sewing machine represented by the needleN, may be suitably mounted and arranged on a supporting structure whichprovides a horizontally disposed base or bed 42 above which there ismounted and supported in parallel, vertically spaced relation 3.horizontally disposed platform or work table 43.

The pattern table 4| is in the form of a rectangular platelike structurewhich is mounted and supported in horizontally disposed position on bedor base 42 between that base and the platform table 43 thereabove.

A minimum friction mounting arrangement for pattern table 4! is providedby which the pattern table is constrained precisely to its straight linepath of movements in the horizontal plane parallel with bed 32 and worktable 43 thereabove. In this example, such minimum friction mounting ofpattern table 4| on bed 42 is effected by providing parallel channelstructures or tracks 44; fixed to bed 42 along opposite sides thereof,respectively. Parallel guide strips 45 are secured in fixed position onand along and depending from the under side of pattern table 4 I, Guides45 extend down into and are slideably received in channels 44,respectively, for reciprocation longitudinally therethrough. Series ofanti-friction balls are engaged between the adjacent side wall surfacesat opposite sides of channels ft! and guides 45 for rolling, minimumfriction engagement therewith. Thus, pattern table 65 may be moved orslide inwardly or outwardly relative to bed 12 and work table 43 withminimum friction and by the application thereto of light forces.

The pantograph P includes a short bar 41 normally disposed generallytransversely of pattern table 4! and being pivotally coupled at one endto the adjacent end of a long bar 48 and at its opposite end to theadjacent end of a link 49 parallel 5 with long bar 48. pleted by a link59 which is pivotally associated at its opposite ends with adjacent rearends, respectively, of long bar 48 and link 49. The primary pivotalsupport of the parallelogram linkage 41-4849-55 of the pantograph unitP, is effected through the mechanism of pivot block 5|. As none of thisstructure forms the present invention, the application merely points outthe above structure as showing its use with the present invention.

The work holder F is connected with the pantograph P through a suitablelinkage which though it is not a part of our present invention, aportion is illustrated herein and designated by the character L.

The linkage L includes a supporting bracket 53 secured to the base 42 atthe rear left hand portion thereof when facing Figure 3. Supportingbracket 53 extends vertically upwardly from base 42 beneath work table43, and a pair of parallel bars or links 54 and 55 are pivotallyconnected at their rear ends by pivots 54a and 5511,, with the upperside of supporting block 53 in positions extending horizontallyforwardly and outwardly in a direction away from the pantograph unit Pand toward the adjacent left hand side of the work table 43. At theirforward ends these parallel links 55 and 55 are pivotally connected bypivots 54b and 55b to one leg 56 of a bell crank lever 51 which ismounted in horizontally disposed position. Thus, the links 54 and 55,bell crank leg 55 and supporting block 53 form a single parallelogramlinkage.

The link 54 is also pivotally connected at its forward end to the outerhorizontally disposed beam 58 which is located generally transversely oflinks 54 and 55 and which terminates at its inner end adjacent butspaced to the rear of the outer end of pantograph link 58. A beam 59,similar to beam 58 is positioned generally parallel with but spacedforwardly from beam 58 and is pivotally mounted or swiveled at its innerend on stud 52. The outer end of beam 59 is pivotally coupled to theother leg 60 of the bell crank 51 by a pivot 59a this bell crank beingpositioned with leg 56, generally parallel with beams 58 and 59 and withlegs 60 thereof transverse to such beams.

An L-shaped bracket member l5 provides a long arm 62 and a short arm 63.The forward end of short arm 63 of bracket 61 is pivotally mounted orswiveled on stud 52 in position above the end of beam 59 which is alsomounted on stud 52. This short arm extends rearwardly from stud 52generally transverse to beams 58 and 59, and at its rear end or junctionwith the inner end of long arm 62, has pivotally coupled thereto byshaft 64a the inner end of beam 58.

The long arm 62 of the L-shaped bracket member 6| extends outwardly ingeneral parallelism with link 50 of pantograph unit P when the latter isin the squared position of Figure 3, and includes at its outer, free endan integral, upstanding split flange member 63a. The shaft 64 is securedfirmly at one end in the split flange member 63 and extends verticallyupwardly therefrom. The upper end of shaft 64 mounts the bracket memberI which extends horizontally inwardly therefrom. The hoop Work holder ismounted in horizontally disposed position by bracket member ID on shaft64, by inserting the shaft 64 in the hole II and threading the fasteningmember in the threaded hole 14a and thus lessening the size of the slot13 and the hole H whereby the bracket II] is caused to be held firmly onthe shaft 64. The

The pantograph P is comwork table 43 is formed with an opening 65therethrough above and around the free end of long arm 62 of bracket 6i,through which opening shaft '64 extends to the upper side of the table.Opening 65 is of sufficient area to permit of the full range ofmovements of shaft 64 by the bracket member in the operation of thelinkage L by the pantograph unit.

The hoop work holderF is positioned by its bracket [5 on shaft 64 to liebelow the needle N of a sewing machine. This hoop Work holder F is inposition for universal lateral movement beneath and across needle N forsewing or embroidering operations as will be readily understood by thosefamiliar with such art.

Thus, it will be apparent that the linkage L connected as described willtransmit movements to the hoop work holder to move that holder in ahorizontal plane beneath and across needle N.

The pantograph mechanism has been disclosed in operative connection withthe associated linkage L for operating the fabric mounting work holder Fof our present invention, primarily for the purpose of giving anillustration of a mechanism which can be used to operate the work holderof the present invention. However, it is not intended by the illustratedexample to limit the use of the work holder mechanism to associationwith any particular mechanism or organization to be actuated therefrom,as the work holder of the invention is intended for use in anyassociation or for any purpose for which it may be adapted.

It is also evident that various modifications, substitutions,eliminations and additions may be resorted to without departing from thebroad spirit and scope of our invention, and hence, we do not desire orintend to limit the invention in all respects to the exact disclosuresof the specific example thereof herein presented, except as may berequired by specific, intended limitations thereto in certain of theclaims hereto appended.

What we claim is:

1. In a work holder, the combination of a bracket, a pair of clampingfingers having contoured work engaging surfaces, said bracket having asubstantially flat base, a substantial portion of which is cut out atone end, said clamping fingers each provided with a yoked extension atsimilar ends with said out out end received between said yoked ends, thebase of said bracket and said clamping fingers lying in substantiallythe same plane said fingers rotatably mounted on said bracket, each ofsaid fingers having a gear arranged to mate with each other, a supportmounted on each of said fingers and connected by a right and left handthreaded shaft, a thumb wheel mounted on said shaft between saidsupports, said gears, thumb wheel and clamping fingers so arrangedwhereby the center point respectively between said gears, said thumbwheel and said clamping fingers are in a straight line.

2. In a work holder, the combination of a bracket and a pair of clampingmembers, said bracket provided with spaced apertures adjacent one end, apin mounted in each aperture and secured therein, the free ends of eachpin extending beyond each side of said bracket, similar ends of eachclamping member having an apertured yoke like extension, each of saidextensions having a portion of said bracket end disposed between saidyoked ends with each of said yoked ends mounted on the free ends of saidpins, a pair of mating gears rotatably mounted on similar free ends ofsaid pins, each of said gears rigidly mounted on one of said clampingmembers, each of said clamping members rotatably mounted on one of saidpins each of said clamping members having an aperture in which a headeddowel member is secured, each head drilled and threaded and mounting anoppositely threaded end of a shaft disposed between said heads, a wheelmounted on said shaft between said heads and arranged to rotate saidshaft, rotation of said shaft causing rotation of said mating gears toswing said clamping members, said mating gears, Wheel and clampingmembers so arranged whereby the center point between said gears, wheeland clamping members are in a straight line.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number 5 297,492 465,959820,089 824,360 1,262,441 10 2,325,417

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Bovensiep Apr. 22, 1884 YerdonDec. 29, 1891 Bouton May 8, 1906 Hormby June 26, 1906 Briggs Apr. 9,1918 Merrill et a1. July 27, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date FranceSept. '7, 1942

